EDITORIAL (February 24 2006): Laudable, indeed, was the demonstration of indigenously produced bio-diesel, an environment-friendly fuel, for diesel power generating units, at Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology on Tuesday.

As explained, on the occasion, by Dr Jafar Nazir Usmani, of Associated Technical Consultants, its development had resulted from the hard work of around one-and-a-half year on vegetable oils, pointing out that it can be used in diesel engines, as also for power generation in remote rural areas, where supply through normal grids happens to be too costly.

It will be noted that although no imported machinery, or component, was used for its production, for commercial purposes. It can be produced by small as well as huge machinery, the latter being more suited to power generation in rural areas. As for the raw material, it could be obtained from domestically grown oilseed plants, such as canola and jatropha.

His contention that bio-diesel from domestic crops can substantially reduce dependence on imported petroleum, and increase agricultural revenue and jobs, offers an exciting prospect. Again, as elaborated by Adil Usman, Chief Executive of Associated Technical Consultants, bio-diesel is the only alternative fuel that works in conventional, unmodified diesel engines.

More to this, pointing out that although in the demonstration they had used 10 percent bio-diesel mixed with 90 percent diesel, the ratio can be increased manifold. As for its effectiveness, he claimed bio-diesel is a proven fuel with a run of over 30 million successful US road miles, and over 20 years of use in Europe.

It will thus be noted that with increased emphasis on the use of alternative or renewable energy, as an effective means of meeting the challenge of the deepening energy famine, has underlined the need for its development on a widening scale.

Reference, in this regard, may be made to a news report, appearing in the recent past, revealing that a Pakistani engineer had identified geo thermal energy, as an alternative source, along with due focus on the potential areas, where Pakistan could benefit from this least expensive source of renewable energy.

While the need of resorting to alternative energy was felt in Pakistan some three decades ago, no tangible results of significance were obtained. It was during this period that research in geo thermal energy in the west, revealed it as an inexhaustible natural source of energy put to use in a number of countries.

Unlike sunlight, wind, or tidal power, it can be used for an indefinite period to generate cheapest electricity, as it neither involves burning fuel or damaging the environment. The renewed emphasis on it, as made from a holistic approach, will appear to have started not only producing results but also encouraging research for development with a keen eye on scarcity of resources.

It was only last month that the 'power co-generation plan', submitted by the sugar industry, was handed over to the Private Power Infrastructure Board, thereby, empowering it to select sugar mills for establishing co-generation plants.

The sugar mills claimed to be capable of supplying around 2000 MW power by using ethanol as fuel obtained from bagasse, during four winter months, and natural gas during the rest of the year. The power generated by sugar industry would be purchased by National Transmission and Dispatch Company (NTDC), or discos, at negotiated and competitive rates, to be approved by National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra).

Under this scheme, power sales/purchase agreements, would be signed with the selected sugar mills on the lines of the agreements signed with IPPs. Moreover, encouragingly enough, while efforts are being made to rely more and more on the use of renewable energy through heavy investments from foreign assistance, as in the case of wind mills, it is heartening to learn that small scale plants are being set up in the coastal areas too. As such, it can be rightly expected that AEDB would pursue its task with greater vigour and foresight, so as to accelerate its pace.

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An excellent development. I always wondered why Pakistan does not pay more attention to things like solar and wind energy, given the vast deserts in Pakistan that could generate a lot of electricity.
Pakistan is a developing nation, but it doesn't mean we should repeat the environmental mistakes of other developing, or developed nations.